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Howmet Aerospace Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.9M
Grant Range
$31K - $1.0M

Howmet Aerospace Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,873,687 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $143 million
  • Average Grant: $37,673
  • Grant Range: $31,000 - $1,000,000
  • Total Awards: 207 grants (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Communities where Howmet Aerospace operates (U.S. and international)
  • Application Process: Invitation only

Contact Details

Note: Grant applications are by invitation only. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Overview

The Howmet Aerospace Foundation, established in 2020, is an independently endowed corporate foundation with assets exceeding $143 million. The foundation distributes more than $8 million annually to nonprofit partners worldwide, focusing on STEM and technical education, workforce development initiatives, and increasing access to STEM fields for underrepresented individuals. Since its founding, the foundation has awarded 563 individual grants totaling over $23 million. The foundation operates in communities where Howmet Aerospace has facilities and employees, with a strong emphasis on local needs and priorities determined in consultation with community stakeholders. Foundation grantmaking is supplemented by thousands of volunteer hours contributed annually by Howmet Aerospace employees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with fixed application cycles. Instead, funding decisions are made through an invitation-only process based on community needs and strategic priorities.

Recent Major Grants:

  • Sarah Heinz House (Pittsburgh): $1 million over five years for STEAM education programs and technical infrastructure improvements
  • American Red Cross: $500,000 for Southern California wildfire relief (2025)
  • Henrietta ISD: $31,000 for STEM program expansion
  • Women's Causes Initiative: $335,000 to 16 nonprofits across six U.S. states and Germany (2020)

Priority Areas

Student Access and Achievement: Programs, events, and campaigns designed to increase student involvement in STEM/STEAM fields and improve academic success in technical disciplines.

Teacher Development: Professional development initiatives for educators teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Inclusion and Diversity: Programs that demonstrate commitment to the inclusion of diverse, underserved, and underrepresented populations in STEM fields. The foundation works with Howmet's employee resource groups (including African heritage, female, Hispanic, LGBTQ+, veteran, young professional, and European employees) to identify funding opportunities.

Workforce Development: Projects that educate and train individuals for advanced manufacturing careers, helping to build the skills and knowledge necessary to advance manufacturing.

Advanced Manufacturing Careers: Technical education and workforce initiatives that prepare students for careers in aerospace and manufacturing sectors.

Emergency Relief: Community support in areas where Howmet Aerospace operates, particularly during crises such as natural disasters and public health emergencies.

Program Requirements

Funded programs must:

  • Be replicable and shareable with other organizations seeking similar results
  • Demonstrate commitment to inclusion of diverse, underserved, and underrepresented populations
  • Align with communities where Howmet Aerospace has operating facilities
  • Support STEM education, technical education, or workforce development

What They Don't Fund

Critical Restriction: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals or applications. All grants are made by invitation only.

Geographic Restriction: Priority is given to communities where Howmet Aerospace has operating facilities and where employees live and work. Organizations outside these areas are unlikely to receive funding.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by officers and directors whose names are listed in the organization's Form 990-PF filings, available through ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer and GuideStar. The foundation operates as an independent entity but maintains close ties to Howmet Aerospace Inc., leveraging employee resource groups and volunteer networks to identify community needs and funding opportunities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Howmet Aerospace Foundation does not have a public application process. Unsolicited grant proposals or grant applications will not be considered; grant applications are by invitation only.

Nonprofit partnerships are selected in consultation with community stakeholders and are based on local needs and priorities in areas where Howmet Aerospace operates.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking, organizations seeking funding should focus on these strategies:

Build Local Connections: The foundation prioritizes communities where Howmet Aerospace has operating facilities. Organizations in these communities should identify local Howmet facilities and employees.

Engage with Employee Resource Groups: The foundation works closely with Howmet's employee resource groups (African heritage, female, Hispanic, LGBTQ+, veteran, young professional, and European employees) to identify funding opportunities. Building relationships with these groups may increase visibility.

Demonstrate Alignment: Ensure your programs clearly align with the foundation's strategic focus on STEM education, technical education, workforce development, and inclusion of underrepresented populations in these fields. Programs should be replicable and demonstrate measurable outcomes.

Leverage Existing Partnerships: The foundation maintains ongoing relationships with partner organizations. Being part of networks or collaborations with current foundation partners may provide pathways to consideration.

Community Stakeholder Networks: Since the foundation consults with community stakeholders to identify partners, active participation in local education, workforce development, and community planning initiatives may increase awareness of your organization.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. Multi-year grants suggest the foundation makes strategic, long-term commitments rather than operating on fixed annual cycles.

Success Rates

With 207 awards made in 2023 and an invitation-only process, traditional success rate metrics do not apply. The foundation appears to maintain ongoing relationships with partner organizations rather than processing competitive applications.

Application Success Factors

Since applications are by invitation only, the following factors appear to influence partnership selection:

Geographic Alignment: Organizations must be located in or serve communities where Howmet Aerospace has operating facilities and where employees live and work. This is the single most important factor for consideration.

STEM and Workforce Development Focus: Programs must directly support STEM education, technical education, or workforce development. The foundation emphasizes "educating and inspiring tomorrow's innovators" and preparing students for advanced manufacturing careers.

Commitment to Inclusion: The foundation explicitly seeks programs that demonstrate commitment to "the inclusion of diverse, underserved and underrepresented populations." Applications should clearly articulate how programs increase access to STEM fields for underrepresented individuals.

Replicability and Scalability: Programs are expected to be "replicable and can be shared with other organizations seeking to produce similar results." The foundation values models that can be adapted and scaled.

Employee Engagement Opportunities: Given the foundation's emphasis on employee volunteerism, programs that provide meaningful volunteer opportunities for Howmet Aerospace employees (such as hands-on science demonstrations, career day presentations, or mentorship) may be particularly attractive.

Multi-Year Impact: Major grants like the $1 million to Sarah Heinz House are structured as multi-year commitments, suggesting the foundation values sustained partnerships with measurable long-term outcomes.

Community Stakeholder Support: Since nonprofit partnerships are "selected in consultation with community stakeholders," strong local support and integration with broader community initiatives strengthens positioning.

Measurable Outcomes: While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus on workforce development and student achievement suggests preference for programs with clear metrics and demonstrated impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only process: Do not submit unsolicited proposals. Focus instead on building visibility and relationships in communities where Howmet Aerospace operates.

  • Geographic proximity is essential: Organizations must serve communities where Howmet has facilities. Research Howmet Aerospace's operational footprint to determine eligibility.

  • STEM education is the core mission: All funded programs must clearly connect to STEM education, technical education, or workforce development for advanced manufacturing careers.

  • Diversity and inclusion are non-negotiable: Every program must demonstrate clear commitment to increasing access for underrepresented populations in STEM fields.

  • Think long-term partnerships: The foundation makes multi-year commitments and values sustained relationships rather than one-time grants.

  • Engage employee resource groups: Building connections with Howmet's employee networks (particularly around women, underrepresented minorities, and veterans) can increase awareness of your organization.

  • Grant sizes vary significantly: Awards range from $31,000 to $1,000,000, with an average around $37,673. The foundation appears flexible in grant sizing based on project scope and community need.

References

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